Director Earl Nettnin (Desert Rats) called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a moment of silence for the sick and departed was observed. No guests were present.

MINUTES: Randy Hayes (Sand Commandos) made a motion seconded by Doug Conner (Roamin’ Chariots) that we accept the October 9, 2012 minutes as printed. Motion passed.

TREASURER’S REPORT: was given by Sande Nettnin (Desert Rats). We have no outstanding bills.

COMP: Nothing new to report.

MEMBERSHIP: Nothing new to report. An information on line meeting last Sunday morning was put on by Vieth the company that we purchased our membership program from; this was for all club administrators as well as Board members and it was an adventure. Hopefully when we all get it figured out it will be good. Membership dues are due in January.

WEB SITE: No comments were expressed.

WE DID IT/CLUB POWER: Chairman Gary Harting (Desert Rats) was not present. However, be sure and fill out paper work when your club has an activity and get it turned in to Gary.

PR: Clay Graham (Yakima Kittitas Forest Watch) is doing a great job of getting information out. If you are not getting alerts from him and would like to be on the list, contact Clay and ask him to put you on, just send him an e-mail at goplay@easternwashingtonadventures.com.

LAND MATTERS
Doug Conner (Roamin’ Chariots) reported the road into Juniper Dunes still is open, however, it’s still a county road but the county did not secure easements. Construction was to begin no later than September, but it’s been delayed until county commissioners decide how to resolve a landowners concern that a 30-inch diameter pressurized water line might be at risk when the road project is completed. To replace the pipe would cost more than a million dollars. So once again we wait and see what happens.
Ron Rutherford (Jeepin’ Nomads) reported research is still being done in the Ahtanum on a short cut
that has been put on hold for about 3 years. Discussion followed and our new DNR Person Jeff Jones is checking into ways to get it done. The area is used by snowmobilers as well as 4X4 people. There is still logging in the area. The Ahtanum area is getting a lot of 4X4 and side by side use. The Wenas area has a couple of temporary road closures by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) one road is in the Wenas Wildlife area and another three miles of the Hessler Flats/Kelley Hollow loop road were closed to motorized vehicles to protect the soils from erosion and allow vegetation to re-seed. A meeting in early December is planned with all land owners and user groups. Mike Livingston is the Region 3 Director of WDFW. He is a wildlife biologist with a Masters degree in Wildlife Science, a Bachelor of Fisheries and Wildlife Science and a Bachelor of Conservation Science.
The Travel Management plan, Forest Revision plan, and BLM Management plans are all on hold. Forest wide Invasive Species has now been added to the Forest Wide Projects. Something else for us to keep an eye on.
FLOOR REPAIR PROJECTS: the 1601 Dry Ridge is done; the 1900 Little Naches Road at Pileup Creek is done; 1900 Little Naches restored two full lanes from damage from 2009; 1808 Deep Creek bridge is done, however the repair on the road damage is being re-bid so everything is still closed.
Blue Ribbon Coalition is following the planning rule that the Forest Service has come up with and they are not in favor of it; they don’t think it’s in tune with recreation. Special thanks to Dave Walters (Peak Putters) for arranging a visit for us with Greg Mumm the Executive Director for Blue Ribbon. Greg is riding across the country on his motorcycle talking with user groups and plans to take this information back to Washington D.C. and present it to congress. You can follow his progress at www.WeAreBRC.org and click on Turn The Tide Tour 2012. We were able to share with him what the PNW in Region 4 is doing. Don and Carol Jensen the PNW’s Inter Association Directors (IAD #1 & #2) met with Greg at the NAMRC meeting in Las Vegas and Greg told them he was extremely impressed with the folks in Region 4 of the PNW. He was in awe of what we did at Pick Up A Mountain. He said other organizations should use our group as a model of what can be done with volunteers. Carol noted that they are extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished. Earl also stressed to Greg that we have a large group of coordinators in our region to handle land issues and get the word out to our people. Greg also met with a representative from Doc Hastings office later in the day at the home of Steve Richards and some other Peak Putters who were able to share more information with him.
WOHVA (Washington Off Highway Vehicle Alliance) is an organization that sends out alerts when something is happening in congress that we should be aware of. If you are not on the CLOUT list, you should be; go to clout@getclout.org and sign up for more information on how to have a direct impact on events in Olympia.
Update in the Cle Elum area – Table Mountain and recreation facilities. The Table Mountain A-Frame rental cabin (formerly called the Boeing Cabin) burned to the ground; and the Ellensburg Ski Club Hut, and the historic “Riders Cabin” have also both burned to the ground. Looks like we will have a lot of trail maintenance work to do in the spring. The Cle Elum Ranger Station will be closed Monday, November 19, 2012 for a mandatory training session. The Ranger Station will return to normal hours on Tuesday, November 20th.
The Nelli Restoration Project is still in the planning stage and the Glass Angel Project has been pushed back into next year, it was supposed to have been finished this year, but has not started yet.
Report on the TWIG meeting – consensus from the people in charge was that they can’t spare the man hours to have meetings more than 4 times a year. Discussion on TWIG followed. It would be nice if they could go back to the way it was when it first started out when you really received information on what was happening. They have suggested having 3 meetings in the fall and 3 in the spring. They want the trail crew to work weekends so they could be available for work parties. They aren’t sure if we will have a December TWIG meeting or not. They wanted to skip this and have it in January on the first Tuesday. Guess what – that’s New Years Day, they didn’t think of that. They have sent out an e-mail asking if people wanted a December meeting or move the January date to the 2nd Tuesday. That’s not acceptable for us as that’s our Region meeting. A decision is to be made on November 26th and they will let us know the date for the next TWIG meeting. Changes are coming.
Rattlesnake trail 620 needs repair. Ron Rutherford (Jeepin’ Nomads) asked Region 4 if we would help with this project this summer. Ron said at the TWIG meeting he would ask the region and get back to them the date that would work for us; however, the Forest Service picked a date for us of August 3 & 4 this is not acceptable. Discussion followed - Everyone thought it was a good idea and wanted to help. The dates that will work for us are July 19, 20 and 21, 2013; so Ron will notify the Naches Ranger District what the dates are that we can help with this project. More information will be coming on this.
COPPER CITY & GRANITE LAKE CERCLA PROJECT comments are due November 28, 2012. For more information on this project go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/okaw...ement/projects and click on the link under CERCLA projects for “Copper City Mill and Granite Lake Prospect Cleanup”. They have listed three alternatives and our recommendation is alternative 2 on site consolidation and capping in place. Comments can be sent to Joseph Gibbens at jfgibbens@fs.fed.us.
NEPA 101 CLASS was held by Michelle King (NEPA Planner and Public Information) before the TWIG meeting in November. Several members of our Region attended the class and thought it was very worthwhile.
OLD BUSINESS
Pick Up A Mountain was well attended, we had twice as many people this year and everyone commented that it was great and they would be back again next year. All bills have been paid and we made a little over $200 more this year than last year.

NEW BUSINESS
Nominations opened again for Region 4 officers for 2013 and will be opened again in January and voted on at that time. Nominees for Region Director – Earl Nettnin, Vice Director – Ed Massey, Secretary/Treasurer – Sande Nettnin, PR – Clay Graham, Lead Land Matters Dale Neuman. Earl, Ed and Sande have said they would accept the nomination again. Sande will check with Clay and Dale to see if they will accept the nomination.

Washington State Land Matters meetings have been scheduled. Jim Putman our WA State Executive Director has picked January 19th for the east side somewhere in Yakima and the west side January 26th in Pacific, WA at King Oscars. As soon as we have a place for the east side meeting it will be posted.

CLUB REPORTS
Desert Rats – some went with the Wine Country Rock Crawlers out of CA on a trip to Cottage Grove and had a great time. Several participated in the Veteran’s Day Parade November 10th in West Richland followed by Pizza at Round Table. We had nominations for our 2013 officers.

Sand Commandos – didn’t have their haunted house at the fair grounds this year but they did have a carnival at the swap meet Friday & Saturday night before Halloween and again on Halloween night. It ended up being sort of like a haunted house. They all had a good time.

Roamin Chariots – are planning camping trips for next year.

Ridge Runners – in September had a family camp out and run to Rim Rock, and some went to Pick Up A Mountain; in October had a Jeep run in the Ahtanum and lots of hunting in their group. They did the Veteran’s Parade and had a pot luck last Sunday. Also working on the property, inspections are done so they have power to the wells. Lots of digging in hard ground, but it’s coming along.

Jeepin’ Nomads – planning for next year. They did an October camp out with the Roamin’ Chariots and hunting season has had them going in different directions through the dust and snow. Also attending lots of meetings.

Hurtin’ Units – have a party planned for December. They only have 2 meetings a year.

GOOD OF THE ORDER
Josh Wesselius thanked the 2012 officers for all their hard work.
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to everyone, see you all in January.
FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS
No Region 4 meeting in December
December 1 PNW4WDA Board meeting in Longview, WA
January 8th Region 4 meeting in Moses Lake, WA at Liberty Off Road 7:30 PM
January 19th East side land matters meeting in Yakima, time and place to be announced.
Winter Convention February 8, 9 & 10, 2013 in Bothell, WA